List of all U-boats

U-418

Type

VIIC

 
Ordered20 Jan 1941
Laid down21 Oct 1941 Danziger Werft AG, Danzig (werk 119)
Launched11 Jul 1942
Commissioned21 Oct 1942Oblt. Gerhard Lange
Commanders
21 Oct 1942 - 30 May 1943  Oblt. Gerhard Lange
Career
1 patrol
21 Oct 1942-30 Apr 1943  8. Flottille (training)
1 May 1943-30 May 1943  1. Flottille (active service)
SuccessesNo ships sunk or damaged
Fate

Sunk on 30 May 1943 in the Bay of Biscay south-west of Brest, France, in position 47.00N, 14.00W, by depth charges from a British Catalina aircraft (210 Sqn RAF/G). 48 dead (all hands lost). (Axel Niestlé & Eric Zimmerman, February 2010).

Loss position

View the 1 war patrol

Previously recorded fate

  • Sunk 1 June 1943 in the Bay of Biscay north-west of Cape Ortegal, Spain, in position 47.05N, 08.55W, by rockets from a British Beaufighter aircraft (Sqdn. 236/B).

Wolfpack operations

U-418 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Without name (5 May 1943 - 10 May 1943)
   Isar (10 May 1943 - 15 May 1943)
   Donau 1 (15 May 1943 - 23 May 1943)

Attacks on this boat and other events

30 May 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British Catalina FP101 (210 Sqn RAF/G, pilot F/L David William Eadie)

09.55 hrs, outside the Bay of Biscay: The Catalina attacked a U-boat, probably the inbound U-418, which was lost shortly afterwards without reporting an attack. AA fire hit the bow of the aircraft during the attack run, killing the nose gunner and wounding two other crew, but the pilot carried on and dropped depth charges. The aircraft made it to base at Pembroke Dock, but the hull was holed, and it sank on landing. Later salvaged.

(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

1 recorded attack on this boat.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-418 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.

U-boat Emblems

We have 1 emblem entry for this boat. See the emblem page for this boat or view emblems individually below.


Sword on a Shield

Media links


U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 1

Wynn, Kenneth


Hitler's U-boat War, Vol II

Blair, Clay


German U-Boat Losses During World War II

Niestle, Axel




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